REINDEER
Akie Kono
15. 05. 2017
Contents
Chapter I Food
Part 1. Basics 9 Part 2. Products 37 Part 3. Cooking 61
Chapter II Clothes & Tools
Part 1. Basics 105 Part 2. Now & Then 115
Part 3. Artefacts 145 Part 4. Ordinary 171
Chapter 1
Food
Part 1
Basics
10
Frozen meat
rib
To store, preserve and be ready for being exported, meat is frozen.
It used to be done outside, but freezer is a major tool nowadays.
Herding is never frozen, which is changing always, by nature or human.
12
Frozen Meat
saddle
Fat bulls are often targets in slaughtering season.
Their lives are devoted to human.
Their territory is exploited by human.
14
Frozen Meat
front
Every herder says to me that reindeer meat is as healthy as fish.
It is true.
Scientists proved that as data.
We can never figure out the beauty of their territory as data.
16
Frozen Meat
back chop
High proteins, low fat.
Reindeer meat is healthy.
Higher temperature, lower stability.
The pasture is unhealthy these days.
18
Frozen Meat
front
‘This is the best part of reindeer meat.’
Today is a special day.
This meat had been waiting for today.
What is the future waiting for them?
20
Frozen Heart
heart
It burns my hands as it is too cold.
Reindeer burns our heart.
Because they are cute? or they are Rudolph?
Because they tell us the beauty of the Arctic.
22
Meat
back leg
Reindeer meat contains a lot of vitamins.
Here, vegetables can not grow.
Nature is well-organised more than computers.
24
Intestines
intestines
This is used for blood sausages.
We have to prepare dinner for 12 people.
This is long enough.
Winter this year is not cold enough.
26
Blood
blood
It must have been warm.
They do not waste it.
They waste sometime to discuss about their lands with someone, whose blood must be cold.
28
Fat
fat
This surrounded stomach.
Reindeer surrounded by nature, sometimes, by roads.
30
Stomach
stomach
Reindeer has several stomach like a cow.
This is one of them.
Their life is totally different from cows though.
They walk for a long distance in the Arctic.
32
Tongue
tongue
Reindeer does not speak.
But, they tell us about the Arctic by their existence.
Not only about Christmas, but also about vulnerability of them.
34
Bone
bone
This is for the dog.
She always plays with this,
chewing, hiding under the snow, picking from the snow etc.
even when I was staring the dancing lights in the dark sky.
Part 1
Basics
38
Packed Meat
chopped meat, plastic, paper
Meat is exported to various places, not only in the North, but also to the South, such as Oslo, London, New York etc.
Not only within pastures, they could travel for far more, although we can not see their face.
40
Packed Meat
steak, plastic
These products arrive in winter, around in January, at markets.
They do not bring Christmas gifts, they bring us themselves, with the taste and time, which is special.
42
Packed Meat
sirloin, plastic, paper
We can find reindeer meat at supermarkets, through a year as long as they have stock.
‘How do you decide when you go to winter cabin on the mountain?’ I asked, he answered,
‘Hmm, it depends on time.’
44
Packed Meat
chopped meat, plastic
There are two types of herded reindeer:
on tundra and in forests.
There are many invaders in the pastures, both on tundra and in forests.
46
Packed Dried Meat
meat, salt
Herders have it to survive in a mountain.
It provides rich protein and is an important source of their energy.
There,
power plants exploit their pasture.
48
Packed Dried Sausage
meat, pork lard, salt, pepper, flavor enhancer, color stabilizer
It is almost a half price of the one sold in the South.
‘That is an only thing we can buy at cheap price at supermarkets.’
He was laughing.
50
Packed Dried Sausage
meat, beef, pepper, salt, garlic
It is sold at the airport in the Arctic.
Just next to chocolates.
Souvenir from the Arctic.
How can we know their life from this?
52
Packed Dried Heart
heart, salt
My foot is going down in lichen covered ground.
Deep roots of lichens and plenty of water.
People who have dry heart would be drown here, in natural resources.
54
Packed Meat
broth meat
‘We also process reindeer and sell it locally or through Facebook.’
His eyes was sparkling.
He is not afraid of anything, even though modernity change their life fast.
56
Packed Smoked Meat
meat
It was foggy outside.
They were at home, working with computer for their business.
It would be ‘White Out’ on the mountain.
Can not see anything,
58
Packed Smoked Meat
leg
Packing to keep the aroma of smoke.
CO2 is packed in the Arctic.
Part 3
Cooking
62
Steak
meat, salt, pepper, herbs, butter, cream sauce, lingon berry sauce,
Meat sautéed in a pan with cream and berry sauce.
It was a special dinner.
Spending time with family or friends, like herders family’s ordinary.
64
Chopping Meat
back leg
‘The best part of reindeer meat is back leg, for me.’ He said.
For me, the best part is here, on the mountain, no house, no road, no one.
66
Stew
chopped meat, vegetables, cream sauce,
Reindeer meat is good with cream.
This is easy to cook actually.
We can buy cream sauce at supermarkets.
As our life become easier, the life of reindeer become harder.
68
Smoked Heart
heart
‘I like it though, do you like it?’
She was putting it on a piece of bread with butter.
Is it strange?
No. I am a stranger.
70
Salting Meat
back leg
This will be left for one or a few weeks.
‘Wait for me.
Do not leave us in the modern world.
Let us be here.’
72
Smoked Frozen Meat
back leg
I can smell the flavour of smoke even though it is frozen.
Reindeer can smell food even though it is far from them.
They carefully looked at hay on the back sledge of his snowmobile.
74
Drying Smoked Meat
back leg, plastic net
Hanging at the back yard.
Being wrapped to avoid birds.
Like veiling nature which is often atacked by human.
76
Dried Smoked Meat
back leg
Smoked with birch tips.
Smoke from nature.
Smoke in the pasture from construction.
78
Washed Stomach
stomach
First, thaw frozen internal organs. Second, let inside out and wash it well.
Then, back it as the first position.
The shape become different from the original one.
Like as it is almost impossible to be back the life in the past.
80
Blood in intestines
blood, flour, salt, papper, herbs, intestines
The mother learned how to cook blood sausages from her grandmother.
She does not herd reindeer anymore today.
Now, it is their turn.
82
blood, intestine, flour, salt, pepper, herbs
It was a home party with family and friends.
Lots of food, talk and laugh.
Here, in the Arctic, is actually warm.
Blood sausages
84
Minced Fat
fat
This will make meal good.
But you have to mince it well first.
The sound of mixer makes me deaf.
It is different when I am on the mountain with no sounds though.
86
Ingredients for Blood meal
blood, fat, flour, salt, pepper, herbs
The sign that it is ready is to stand a ladle itself.
It is the sign of coming spring that reindeer come down to the bottom of the mountains.
This year we already saw it on March.
88
Boiled Blood
blood, flour, fat, salt, pepper, herbs
Would you like to have it with honey?
Life in the Arctic is sugarless.
90
Blood Sausages
blood sausages, boiled blood, boiled front meat, honey, lingon berry sauce, vegetable, potato
The mother pours blood in intestines and boil it.
This is a tradition of herders.
The sky drops rain to the ground and make snow icy.
This is a recent trend in the Arctic.
92
Blood Pancakes
blood, flour, milk, egg, suger, butter
Also good with berry sauce.
‘Bitter sweet’.
It can describe for their life.
Like ‘painful calm’.
94
Hamburger pate
minced meat
Experimenting new reindeer dish as a casual food, such as for young generation.
They are the key for future.
Reindeer need the key for future.
96
Hamburger pate
minced meat, butter
We made seven pates.
I was about to take the second one.
But I do not want to take the second bans which is from a supermarket.
I ate only the pate.
98
Hamburger
minced meat, bans, vegetables, hamburger saurce
The Arctic Hamburger.
Of course, that is warm.
The atmosphere at home make it even more warm.
It was brewing over the window.
100
Marrow
bone
This is called the best part of reindeer.
Not only the taste but also that rich nutritions.
The texture is soft and smooth like pudding or tofu.
So it is fragile, same as their life.
Chapter II
Clothes & Tools
Part 1
Basics
106
Antler
antler
Reindeer fall their antler and grow new one every year.
It grows quickly.
One of their reindeer died a few years ago,
because the reindeer fell down in the gap between the hill and the lake created by hydro power production.
108
Skin
skin
He put it on the back seat of his snowmobile.
It would definitely help.
I sat on that luxury seat.
That day, it was brewing on the mountain.
It was hard even to breath the air.
110
Skin
front leg
Be careful not to make a hole when you scratch it.
She would cry if it happens.
We often realise the value, when we lost it.
112
Skin
back leg
Here, there is a leg skin, she already dried.
This is still hard, so we have to scratch it.
Reindeer pastures have been scratched by modernization.
Part 2
Now & Then
116
Boots
skin, yarn
The mother made this for her son.
It was around 15 years ago.
‘I used this several times and also have tried snow boarding with it!’
This still looks well.
118
Boots
skin, yarn
Pointed toes are for hooking ski boards.
Reindeer skin does not get wet on snow ground.
So, this is perfect for skiing.
But it is not a necessity anymore for herders.
They might need skating shoes today.
120
Summer Boots
leather, yarn, rubber
She had to wear this in Tronheim on February.
Because of asphalt roads.
‘I was freezing, but I could not wear winter boot.’
It is too vulnerable for hard material and rain, like their pasture.
122
Needle Set
steel, felt
This is for sewing skins.
You can see that the end of these are flat.
This winter, temperature is extremely fluctuated.
Can we see the end of climate change?
124
Thimble
leather
It is small, but necessary, crucial.
We often discuss large things, forgetting about something important,
which is often small.
126
Ribbon loom and Shuttle
antler, bone
It looks very complicated.
But, no, you can just follow this pattern instruction.
Their life is simple, following the nature.
It is not easy though.
128
Shuttle
antler
If it is long, it is made from antler.
If it is short, it is from leg bone, Because their leg is short.
They run very fast with their short legs, for escaping from their predators
or vehicles.
130
Dried Bark
birch
This is for making leather.
It is used for colouring and softening skin.
They use nature.
Today, we take resources from nature, destroying nature.
132
Scratching Stick
wood, steel
‘Hmm, once a year, usually, it needs a lot of work.’
She done it by herself, even though she can sell it to a factory.
Why?
That is a tradition.
134
Leather
front leg
Sorry, I have to go for ice fishing today.
Can you do it by yourself?
Of course, the life is up to the weather, which is unstable, here.
We forget the weather at a supermarket.
136
Pouch
skin, felt, yarn
He made this when he was 13.
It is hang on the wall like a picture.
138
Key Fob
skin, felt, yarn
This is also made by him when he was young.
He can do anything, sewing, cooking, herding etc.
Because there are reindeer.
140
Gloves
skin, yarn
You should wear this unless you have really good one.
Otherwise, your hands would be freeze while you ride on a snowmobile.
142
Winter Coat
skin, felt, yarn
It is 40 years old.
This is the father’s, he uses it only sometimes.
Although it has a moth-hole, it is impossible to throw it away.
Part 3
Artefacts
146
Knife & the Case
antler, skin, birch
This is too beautiful for work.
He was laughing.
‘I also had a knife, which has an antler parts, but it was broken.’
I have never broken a knife in my life.
148
Milking Cup
antler, birch
Reindeer had been milked before.
These cups has been still made, not for milking anymore,
not for just tourists, for a collection.
150
Milk Cup
antler, birch
He had a one, hanging on his belt.
It had been used for drinking fresh water from the river.
Today, he has lost it and uses plastic bottle.
He hasn’t lost fresh water from the river, for now.
152
Spoon
antler
There is an old story in Finnish Lapland, the Sami man made an antler spoon and give it to the woman
to show his love for her, Today, spoons are often displayed in museums
like promising eternity.
154
Salt Container
antler, birch
Did you say that you want this, right now?
You can not buy this at souvenir shops.
It would be too expensive.
This is in a museum.
156
Butter Case
antler, birch
Looks like a japanese traditional lunch box.
Instead of putting rice,
they put butter for lunch on the mountain in the past.
They?
Or their ancestors.
158
Collar
skin, felt, tin thread
Some of forest reindeer herders uses it.
Does it look like a cow or a pet?
Reindeer is ‘herded’.
It is different from cows.
160
Sewing Kit
antler, birch, steel, leather
Beautiful clothes are from beautiful tools.
Tradition has been inherited, with or without the tools.
162
Ribbon loom and Shuttle
antler
She has a one at home, still uses for making clothes.
This is in a glass case at a museum.
164
Hand Bag
skin, roots, yarn
Is this special?
It would be fit with modern clothes too.
Yes, it is special.
It is a handmade and from reindeer, the nature.
It used to be ordinary in the past.
166
Leggings
skin, yarn, felt
Leggings are made from reindeer legs.
It is not for imitation, because of the function.
Life of reindeer herding can not be copied at other places.
168
Hat
skin, roots, yarn
It was usual that herders wear a traditional hat even during their work,
in the past.
Today, you can see it at tourist attractions or museums.
Part 4
Ordinary
172
Lasso
rubber
Throwing this to the antler of reindeer to catch them.
You have to practice a lot.
They have been good at this, because they grown up as herders.
'What? Other jobs? No, I never thought about that.' Never.
174
Soap
fat, lye
His brother made this.
It is next to the sink.
There were reindeer wondering food behind the garden.
It was on March.
They are supposed not to be here.
176
Hat
skin, yarns
Fur catch windy snow and skin covers even ears.
This is a necessity on the mountain.
It protect a head and make noise smaller.
Although here is already quiet.
At least until today.
178
Earmark
ear
Each herder has their own earmark.
That is a way of cutting reindeer ears.
Plastic ear tags?
This is not agriculture, like cows or sheep.
It is reindeer herding.
180
Hay
dried grass
This is used in winter, for reindeer, not to starve.
They can dig snow, but not ice.
I can hear their sigh, more and more.
182
Fence
wood
Autumn is the most busiest season.
All families gather and work here.
‘We can stop all traffic in order to let reindeer across the road, so, that is no problem.’
There have already been problems.
184
Outside Light
lamp, grass, plastic, wood, electricity code
They have a long day in this fence area.
Here is the Arctic.
The daytime is getting to be shorter and shorter.
Depression time is starting.
186
Slaughter Hanger
wood, steel
They also slaughter reindeer by themselves.
Such a simple structure.
Here, the life is simple.
Or it used to be.
188
Knife & the Case
skin, yarn, birch, steel
They order this kind of knife to local craftsman.
So it is from Scandinavia, even the blade.
He opened plastic cover of hay by his knife.
190
Knife & the Case
skin, yarn, birch, steel
Every herder has their own knife, hanging on their belt.
Knife is still their necessity although it is not only used for slaughtering reindeer.
The use is for cutting anything except a tie between reindeer and herders.
193 192
Index
Food
From the Smuks Back leg:
(normal)... 23
(chopped)... 65
(salting)... 71
(frozen & smoked)... 73
(drying)... 75
(dried)... 77
Blood: (normal)... 27
(for boiled blood)... 87
Bone... 35
Fat: (normal)... 29
(minced)... 85
Front: (a half)... 15
(chopped)... 19
Heart... 21
Intestines: (normal)... 25
(blood inside)... 81
Saddle: (whole)... 13
(chopped)... 17
Stomach: (normal)... 31
(washed)... 79
Tongue... 33
Blood Sausage: (whole)... 83
(pieces)... 91
Blood Pancakes... 93
Boiled Blood... 89
Hamburger: (pates)... 95
(frying pates)... 97
(served)... 99
Marrow... 101
Stew... 35
From Mats Kemppe Rib... 11
Steak... 63
Rein Passion Broth meat: Buljong kjøtt... 55
Smoked meat: Røkt Rein... 57
Smoked meat... 59
Finnmark Rein Chopped meat: Reinbiff... 39
Sirloin: Rein Mørbrad... 43
Glide Chopped meat: Høyfjellsrein Reinsdyrskav ... 45
Steak: Høyfjellsrein Stek... 41
Fenaknoken - ARV Dried meat: Fjellsnacks... 47
- Mydland Dried sausage: Rein Spekesnack... 49
Emanuelsen Kjøtt og Fisk AS / Bugøynes Produksjon AS Dried smoked heart: Tørket Reinhjerte ... 53
Østlia Gårdsprodukter AS Reinsnacks... 51
Clothes & Tools
From the Smuks Antler... 3 ,107 Skin: (whole)... 109(front leg)... 111
(back leg)... 113
-Clothes- Gloves... 141
Hat... 177
Key Fob... 139
Leather... 135
Pouch... 137
Summer Boots... 121
Winter Boots...117, 119 Winter Coat... 143
-Tools- Dried Bark... 131
Ear Mark... 179
Fence... 183
Hay... 181
Knife...189, 191 Lasso... 173
Needle set... 123
Outside Light... 185
Ribbon loom... 127
Shuttle... 127, 129 Scratch Stick... 133
Soap... 175
Slaughter Hanger... 187
Thimble... 125
Tromsø Museum Spoon... 153
Varanger Samiske Museum -Clothes- Hand bag... 165
Hat... 169
Leggings... 167
-Tools- Butter Case... 157
Collar... 159
Knife... 147
Milking Cup... 149
Milk Cup... 151
Ribbon loom... 163
Salt Container... 155
Sewing Kit... 161
Shuttle... 163
Special Thanks
Luis Callejas and Peter Hemmersam, who supervised my project, Rein Passion (Paul Ante Smuk and Jan Ivvar Smuk) and their family, The Smuks, who hosted me and helped my project a lot, Mats Kemppe and Heidi Marja Komonen, Fenaknoken (the butcher in Oslo), Varanger Samiske Museum: Várjjat Sámi Musea, Tromsø Museum and everyone else
who helped me to gather objects and inspired me.
